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Day 23, Thursday: Things you've learned that school won't teach you

Forgive yourself
Trust yourself
Believe in yourself

Because you are your only guarantee.

I will always remember the day I stopped caring what people said about me. As far as I was concerned, what did their opinions matter?! Anyone who knew me or wanted to know me would listen to what I had to say as opposed to what they had heard. If they didn't then they weren't right for me.

If only I could get back to my eating habits of this age, I am sure I would be that much happier aga

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I have this in my downstairs loo!

Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives

This was actually a really nice idea, I don't tend to look back through my own blog and it is amazing to see how writing styles change and how different life was before children!!!!

2nd Wedding Anniversary
Land of lonely
Life before children

Ooops... so here's the blog everyday catch up!!

I knew this was too much of a challenge for me given where I am in my life at the moment! Never mind.. I am just glad blogging police don't exist!

Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day - this could be "a photo an hour" if you'd like)

I will have to come back to this one! I will do it tomorrow now I have looked at it!!

Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it

Probably similarly to my sister PCOS is the only constant battle in my life. Although Isabelle's current sleep phase is just a ridiculous struggle. I am praying it is a phase/teeth/food soon to go away thing.

Luckily for me my lot is a lovely lot that I really appreciate and love. I think everyone's lot is difficult at times and being positive throughout is the trick to overcome any of it.


Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why

Because I won't share pictures of Isabelle and she didn't exist at the time! But I love pictures of Andy and I together, we don't take enough.

Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.

I remember every time (in mind) I ever hurt Stacey, for some of them I even remember why I hurt her and then how awful I felt after. 

The worst one was when I told her she could get down from her high bed without the ladder, convinced her she could do it. And that if she couldn't I would help her. Then as she climbed over she said she needed help and I said no, or was being too lazy. When I finally said I would help, she had let go and banged her leg. She has a scar from that day. I think this is one of the reasons why I can't not help now, why I would really rather not say anything than say something I don't mean and why I will always hate hating her.

Bit of a sinister memory really, I don't think about it often. Just when I do I know I feel bad!


Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them

Obviously, I love my sisters blog. Improvised intentions keeps me up to date with her without her having to repeat it all to us. 
Bleubird Vintage probably features most frequently on this list for people. I find this family so inspiring.
WinterLove  has been a favourite blog of mine for as long as I can remember
Smile and Wave got me into blogging, I don't think I will ever loose respect for the things Rachel can create.
Finally, Sometimes Sweet has to be a popular choice, she is another blogger that lets so much of her family exist online.

I love to read blogs, especially new ones

Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now.

Struggling with lack of sleep, how it makes me feel and act. But mostly I am struggling with being the best mother I can to Isabelle with such a lack of ability. 

I am so lucky to have my mum around, she has been brilliant again at talking things through with me and giving me practical advice. So lucky that I think I am making progress in getting Isabelle down to sleep. It's just the through the night to go!!!

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Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy

Andy

Isabelle

Family time

Walking

Creating

Clean house

Helping someone else

Blogging/Reading blogs

Believing in myself

Nature

Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.

My public apology is for time.

I was inspired yesterday and through a couple of the questions, to realize that I feel I don't have enough time. I like to fill my time, I think I use it wisely. But I don't think I will ever feel as though I had enough.

Life to me is so very precious, love in that life is the best gift, experience, treasure that anyone can experience. Time may not be 'short' but it is uncertain and unfortunately the only certainty is death. So instead of worrying about not having enough time I want to start thinking about how I can best use my time.

I apologize for thinking I don't have enough when I have the time I need.

Superscrimper make

Yet another discovery I am afraid....

I find it really difficult to find reasonably priced, varied and quality fabric in Devon or Cornwall at the moment. Then, as luck would have it, that Mrs M came through again. Just look at this website! As long as you can get passed the naff website, I am sure it is a diamond in the rough kinda discovery.

Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss?

I miss summer holidays from school. 6 weeks felt like such a long time. Like you had so much time to do anything you wanted.
My mum always planned activities and we did great things, we visited family, made camps, painted Egyptian versions of ourselves at the museum. We just lived then.

As I got older, I used to go to the beach with friends. Eventually I started work and going out at the weekends. Summer time just makes everything feel better.

I am not entirely sure when time became relevant to me but I always feel like I need more. I guess I miss that feeling!

Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less

Loving
Caring
Accepting
Hopeful
Dreamer
Planner
Worrier

Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill.

I think this memory has to be the most prolific in my mind. In my mind's eye I can see this in slow motion every time I tell the story.

When I was in year 7, I used to have to catch the bus home. I hated it. Absolutely hated it.

I used to try and leave class 5 minutes early by making up an excuse of leaving my pe kit somewhere or having to go to the front office for something.

Well, on this occasion I hadn't been allowed to leave early. I was so afraid of missing my bus that I ran (I am NOT a runner!) to catch it. I was doing well until I tripped over my own feet and super-manned across the floor. It was obviously hilarious to everyone but all I could think of was getting on the bus. So I got up and ran to it.

I made it. I sat on the bus willing myself not to cry. Covered in mud and dust. I texted my mum and asked her to meet me at the bus stop, which she did, as I got off the bus and saw her she just looked shocked. She thought I had been beaten up or attacked. I just cried!

Only now I am older is that story funny, I still have a scar on my knee from that fatal day.

Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day

I have picked my favourite moment, it is around 10am each day, I watch Isabelle doze off and just see her for a little bit.

I see everything I love in one tiny person.
I thank my husband and God for her, for my life and where I am.
I also silently ask Isabelle to not grow up so fast, or be so concerned with growing up like I was.

I don't have many pictures of this moment, writing this has made me realise I need to take more of this moment.

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Blogging everyday in May .... Late to the party

Ok so I am a few days late to this, I have so many excuses but I won't share them! I will just get on with catching up ....

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less

I was born in Plymouth and have never had any desire to leave. I grew up with my sister and lovely parents, did the usual school thing. I did university a bit differently - in that I completed my degree but I chose to do it part time through evening classes and work full time during the day. I met and married my husband within the space of a year when I was 19, he is so much more than I thought a husband would be. Then September 2012 we were blessed with our little girl. I am currently trying this Stay At Home Mum - perfect wife - home maker - bill contributor - crafter role, that is so far extremely fulfilling! 

Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know alot about or are good at.

This is tricky, I feel like I am pretty average at a lot of things. Good at it is possibly communicating. I like to talk, especially with Andy my husband because we are the strangest compliment I have ever known. We can argue but both be talking about the same thing said in a different way. This sounds like poor communication you say, except now that we have done this for so long we know to act, draw, gesture our points across. It has made us stronger.

I talk a lot to Isabelle because I don't love silence often, because I believe it helps her learn. We have also started baby sign recently and I love that she laughs at me singing at her! But this is such an important age for her cognitive development that I think exposing her to so many positive experiences will help her curiosity and love for life.

Reading this paragraph I might change being good at loving my family?! Hmmm

Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable

I am not sure whether this should be a list or just a few, so, just the really uncomfortables. 

I am really uncomfortable with waving thanks at a crossing. I make myself do it but I feel so stupid that I sweat. Weirdo. 

I don't like feet, I am really not a fan of people putting their feet near me or being bare. Yet I prefer being barefooted.

Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote

Since having Isabelle my outlook on life has changed, I feel a lot more responsible and put probably more pressure on positive decision making. 

I have probably two : 

And that probably says more about me than any of these questions!

Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends.

I truly appreciate and am inspired by Natalie of Winter Love, my baby and her youngest are about 10 weeks apart so she had some brilliant advice for me when I was expecting. She also writes a lot about living in the moment, self love and accepting your own flaws. As a mother, I constantly struggle with not being enough for Isabelle. When I read the other people feel similar or worse, I take comfort in knowing tomorrow is another day and I am not alone in my feelings.

Even if you aren't a parent you will find something you love about Natalie!

Day 6, Monday: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?

What do I do?! Hmmmm, clean, cook, console, encourage, motivate, support. I do a lot of the emotional support for our family, but I think women tend to more than men. 

I make things, which I wish I had a little more time to do but thats not where my life is at the moment. 

I do a lot of accepting at the moment, accepting less sleep and someone else's routine/needs. I don't accept a lot of help.

Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of

Easiest question so far for me, I am extremely afraid of loosing someone in my family. I am afraid of the dark, I am afraid of being alone, I am afraid of loosing my memory. 

I don't know where this one really originates from but sometimes I have these days where I just panic someone is going to die and the only way I have ever dealt with it is by saying to them 'please don't die'. Completely strange, I guess it links in with the being alone. I don't mind a few hours, I am talking in life. I hate the thought of someone being alone, dying alone. I feel so blessed to have so much love in my life that it doesn't make sense to me that others don't have it.

The dark is just stupid. 

I hate the thought of getting old and not remembering Andy, like in the Notebook. I am convinced that scrap booking/journalling/blogging etc keeps me remembering and will help me tell myself if my memory does go.

Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

My advice would be, appreciate your life, your family and friends. Tell them you love and appreciate them because it's over way too quickly. 

So that's it, up to date! Stop by each day to see how this turns out!!

Superscrimper make

This week is a bit of a cheat, not so much of a make as a bit of a discovery. The link will take you to the blog of one of the ladies on the show and although some things aren't relevant to me, her innovative cheap ideas more often appeal.

Nicolette's DIY page, has to be one of the most inspiring around. My inner crafty is just itching to get started!

Badger Balm - Sun cream

We have been so fortunate to have some good weather recently, it has been lovely taking Isabelle into the garden and getting some fresh air!

However, the sun has always been a love hate kinda thing for me. I like a little colour but I am extremely worried about the harmful rays that can cause problems for our skin, internally and our eyes. I was worried about me. Now I am worried about Isabelle. I know the best thing we can do is limit our time in the sun and when we are in the sun to stay as covered as possible with hats and sunglasses.

I know I sound like a worry wart, people that live outside of the UK get more sun most likely and cope with it a lot differently. When I decided it was time to purchase some organic, safe, baby friendly sun cream I hit a major task. There was so much to learn in finding the best and safest sun protection for our family.

As a general guide, from what I read you need broad spectrum coverage - meaning both UVA and UVB.
No SPF above 50 has supporting justifiable lab tests to suggests these are any safer. Oxybenzone is commonly used in sun screens and this can penetrate the skin which has been linked to skin cancer and hormone disruption. When I read this article I was truly shocked that so many of the well known companies are not making safe sun cream.

To summarise, for our trips in the sun we will be using Badger Balm. I read a good few reviews and these were always featured highly, I have read the information on the website. I feel that they are an honest company providing as much information about the safety of their products and that really reassures me. I will also be exploring their range of products for our other needs - soaps, lip balms and massage oils!

*I am not working in partnership with Badger Balm, this a completely unbiased review. It is my personal opinion.*

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